Chapter 232: 232

Ikenga smiled seeing Orin usage of his curse, the whisperer would have won if it were facing someone ignorant and without knowledge but he was facing the knowledge hoarder, “You can tell a lie to someone who knows the truth”

Looking at the next curses. Before she became the embodiment of tyranny, Queen Elsha was known for her wisdom and beauty. As the first female ruler of her kingdom, her ascent to the throne was fraught with challenges. She was the only child of her father, the late king before he died under the hands of a beast during his hunting party. Many of the kingdom’s nobles and advisors, accustomed to male leadership, questioned her right to rule. Despite their skepticism, Elsha’s early reign was marked by fairness and prosperity, and she quickly gained the love of her people through her just and compassionate rule.

However, her position remained precarious. The patriarchal structures of her society constantly undermined her authority, with whispers of defiance and plots to replace her becoming a common occurrence in the royal court. Elsha had to navigate a treacherous political intrigue, where every decision she made was scrutinized more harshly than it would have been for a male ruler.

Her most trusted advisor, Lord Malachi, who is also her uncle, was secretly one of her greatest adversaries. He manipulated the kingdom’s deeply ingrained misogyny to sow seeds of doubt and fear in Isabella’s mind. Malachi, seeking to control the throne from behind the scenes, fed her paranoia by fabricating conspiracies and exaggerating threats, painting a picture of a kingdom on the brink of betrayal.

Elsha, feeling isolated and increasingly desperate to prove her strength, began to rule with an iron fist. She implemented harsh measures to silence dispute and secure her power, believing that a show of strength was necessary to maintain her throne. The love and admiration of her people turned to fear and resentment as she executed those she perceived as threats without trial and imposed severe laws that stifled freedom.

The breaking point came when Isabella ordered the execution of her most vocal critic, Lady Garda, a noblewoman who championed the rights of the oppressed and openly defied Isabella’s harsh measures. Garda’s death was the final straw for the people, who had already suffered greatly under Elsha’s increasingly tyrannical rule. Their collective anguish and anger formed a powerful resentment that led to the attraction of the curse inhabiting her.

Unlike the other cursed beings who were shunned and chased away or killed. Once Elsha turned into a cursed being, no one in the kingdom aroused the thought of going against her rule even with her new appearance. They all silently stayed under her rule.

Thaddeus the other cursed being was once a powerful man in a peaceful and prosperous village. His extraordinary strength set him apart from others, making him an admired figure for his physical capabilities. However, the world’s serene state left him feeling unfulfilled. Despite his remarkable power, there was no conflict or challenge that required his might. This peace, though a blessing to many, felt like a curse to Thaddeus.

Thaddeus’s frustration grew over time. He hated being unable to use his strength for anything meaningful. The mundane tasks of village life seemed trivial compared to what he believed he was capable of. His discontent festered, turning into resentment towards the world around him. He began to believe that his strength was wasted in such a tranquil existence.

The villagers, who once admired him, started to sense his growing bitterness. Thaddeus’s occasional outbursts of anger made them wary. Yet, their unease was not enough to catalyze a collective resentment until a tragic event occurred.

One fateful day, a strong magical beast descended upon the village, wreaking havoc and causing destruction. Many lives were lost, and the peaceful village was thrown into chaos. Thaddeus, with his immense strength, ultimately managed to defeat the beast, but the victory came at a great cost. The villagers mourning their dead tried to understand why such a calamity fell upon them.

As they searched for answers, a chilling truth emerged. Thaddeus, in his quest for purpose, had unknowingly provoked the beast. Driven by his frustration and desire for a challenge, he had ventured into beast lair and disturbed the creature, leading it to follow him back to the village, so that he can show off his strength and further convince the villagers of his overwhelming talent. The realization that Thaddeus’s actions had brought such devastation upon them was the final straw. The collective anger and resentment of the villagers called upon the curse inhabiting Thaddeus.

A chilling wind sweeps through the air. Elsha, her form regal yet terrifying, stands at one end of the forest. Thaddeus, with his hulking, muscular frame, stands at the other end. They lock eyes for the first time.

Queen Elsha Smirking looked up to the tree branch where Ikenga was sitting ” Perhaps the god of curses delights in pitting us against each other.”

Thaddeus Snarling said ” That works best for me, I’ve been waiting for a challenge all my life”

Elsha’s smirk widened into a feral grin, the chains at her command writhing with anticipation. “Then prepare yourself, Thaddeus,” she replied, her tone a mix of challenge and invitation. “For today, one of us will find our end, and the other will claim the power to reshape their fate.”

Thaddeus nodded curtly, a hint of excitement etched upon his burly features. “I’ll see you at the end of this, Elsha,” he vowed, his voice a thunderous promise that echoed through the silent forest.

With a flick of her wrist, Elsha sent her chains whipping forward, aiming to entangle Thaddeus. He roared, meeting the attack head-on with a thunderous charge. The ground shook violently as he barreled towards her, his immense strength causing cracks to spiderweb out from his feet. The chains wrapped around his arms, but he simply tore them apart with a bellow of rage, snapping the metal links like they were mere twine.

Elsha narrowed her eyes, focusing her will. The crown of thorns glowed brighter, and psychic spikes lanced out towards Thaddeus’s mind. He staggered, clutching his head as the mental assault tore through his consciousness. But his fury only grew, and with a roar, he slammed his fists into the ground, sending a shockwave rippling towards her.

She leaped back gracefully, her chains retracting as she avoided the brunt of the tremor. With a gesture, she commanded the chains to lash out again, this time aiming to bind his legs. They coiled around him, and she pulled, intending to bring him to his knees. But Thaddeus’s strength was relentless. With a snarl, he ripped the chains free once more, the metal biting into his flesh but failing to hold him.

He lunged at her, his massive hand swinging in a crushing arc. She dodged, but not quickly enough. His fist grazed her side, and the force sent her sprawling. She rolled to her feet, the pain barely registering as she focused on her next move. Her eyes locked onto his, and for a moment, he felt the full weight of her tyranny. His steps faltered, his mind overwhelmed by the need to submit.

Taking advantage of his hesitation, she unleashed a flurry of psychic spikes from her crown. They struck him, piercing his mind and body, drawing blood and screams of agony. But he refused to fall. His primal instincts kicked in, and he roared again, louder and more ferocious. The ground beneath them cracked and buckled as he pounded his fists into it, sending debris flying.

He charged again, this time with an unstoppable fury. She tried to evade, but his speed was unnaturally enhanced by his rage. He caught her with a brutal strike to the chest, lifting her off her feet and slamming her into the ground. She gasped for breath, the impact leaving her momentarily stunned.

Seeing her vulnerable, Thaddeus seized the opportunity. He stomped the ground, creating a localized tremor that pinned her down. His hands, capable of crushing bone, wrapped around her neck. He lifted her, intending to snap her spine and end the fight.

But she was not defeated yet. With her last ounce of strength, she focused all her power into a single, desperate act. Her chains shot forward, wrapping around his arms and neck, tightening with unyielding force. Her eyes blazed with determination as she poured her will into the chains, commanding them to constrict and crush.

The chains tightened, cutting into Thaddeus’s flesh. Blood oozed from his wounds, his body convulsing as he struggled against the unbreakable bonds. With a final, desperate roar, he summoned all his remaining strength. The ground trembled as he tore one arm free, then the other. He reached up, grabbing the chains around his neck, and with a tremendous effort, he snapped them apart.

Elsha watched in disbelief as Thaddeus broke free. She tried to summon her chains again, but it was too late. With a primal scream, Thaddeus lunged at her, his immense hands wrapping around her throat. He lifted her off the ground, squeezing with all his might. The crown of thorns glowed brightly, but its power was fading. She struggled, gasping for breath, but Thaddeus’s grip was unrelenting.

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